Pakistan's defence chief visits Canberra

AS US commandos swooped on Osama bin Laden's suburban fortress near Islamabad and killed him on Monday, the head of Pakistan's military, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, was in Canberra for top level defence and security talks.

Pakistan has faced a global clamour to explain how the world's most wanted terrorist set up house within walking distance of the country's key officer training academy.

But it's not known if Gen Wynne was asked to respond to accusations that the Pakistan military must have known bin Laden's whereabouts.

"It is not the practice of the Australian Government to reveal the contents of confidential government-to-government discussions," a Defence spokesman told AAP in a statement today.

However, Defence did reveal that bin Laden had been discussed.

"In general terms, the talks with General Wynne involved discussion on a range of security issues, including the death of Osama bin Laden," the spokesman said.

"General Wynne welcomed the operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden."

In a statement released on Wednesday night, Defence said Gen Wynne's visit was hosted by Defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston and was the fifth round of Pakistan-Australia Defence and Security Talks.

During the visit he met heads of national security agencies, joined a roundtable discussion at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and called on Defence Minister Stephen Smith.

"Both sides welcomed the recent United States operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden."

Air Chief Marshal Houston said the operation highlighted the continuing importance of close counter-terrorism cooperation between Pakistan and the United States and the international community.

Talks also covered the significant increase in defence cooperation between Australia and Pakistan over the past few years, particularly in training courses in Australia offered to Pakistan military personnel.

"Counter-insurgency skills are a key focus of our Defence cooperation program and Australia and Pakistan have developed a number of training initiatives in this area," Defence said.

Air Chief Marshal Houston acknowledged Pakistan's efforts against the Pakistan Taliban in border regions over the past two years.

He also encouraged Pakistan to take further action in support of the efforts of the International Security Assistance Force and the Afghanistan Government against the Afghan insurgents who seek sanctuary in Pakistan's border areas.

"The events of the past week underline the importance of Australia's defence cooperation program and our high-level dialogue with Pakistan's military leadership," Defence said, adding the general's "program has now concluded".

But the department couldn't confirm this afternoon whether he'd left Australia yet.